Silver week

So it is the beginning of the second day after I returned from my silver week vacation. From Monday until Wednesday night, I was with my head teacher, his friend and one other in the Tochigi prefecture enjoying what the Japanese countryside had to offer. It was a good crew for the trip. I get along with my head teacher and it turned out that his friend and the other gentlemen were really good company. The people that are with you make a really big difference.

On Monday, we set out and ended up in Nikko to go see the Toshogu Shrine. Traffic wasn't too bad until we got to Nikko (everyone had a similar idea to us) and we got there at around 1 or 2ish I think. Since the roads were small and traffic was really heavy on the road to Toshogu, we parked a few Kilometers away and walked up the local streets to our location. It was a nice walk actually as that area was really pretty and there was plenty for my eyes to enjoy on the walk. Check facebook for pics. We also stopped for lunch at a Mom and Pap Korean restaurant on the way. It was a really cute place with maybe five or six tables and walls decorated with notes and pics from foreigners that have visited in the past. The owners were really sweet and talked to us while we ate and shared stories of popular customers or awards they have gotten. Definitely a good way to start off the Nikko experience . . . full of tasty Korean style food.

The Shrine was Magnificent. From the location amidst a national park to the careful detail of the artwork on every building, there was nothing about the place that was unimpressive. Leyasu was definitely an important guy because the effort that went into putting Toshogu together is clearly more apparent than other shrines I have seen here thus far. Unfortunately I was a bit sick that day and didn't get the full experience I could have, but I will still not easily forget how impressed with that place I was.

From there we got to our hotel that was basically a really big house run by an old married couple that have been there for 25 years. I was really impressed with the service we were met with, as were my companions. They made breakfast and dinner for us the two days we stayed and the meals were multi-course meal feasts. I am still hitting myself for not taking pictures of em. Probably had to do with the fact that I was dog tired by the time we sat down for dinner everyday. Also, Our room was a Six Tatami mat sized room, so sleeping was a snug experience and we spent very little time in our room. That was fine, since the living room was stocked with manga and board games that kept us occupied for hours on our second night. ^_^ A wonderful hotel.

On day two, we got up bright and early in order to catch the first Gandola to get to the 2000 Meter station of Mt. Shirane (Shirane san). It was a cloudy cool day that was perfect for a day of hiking . . . Not to mention that the leaves were turning already and the beauty started even before we started. We got to the station with no issue and got to the top of the mountain in about 2 hours. Freakin gorgeous and I have already posted good pics. Check em. From the top, we took a different path to a little pond and had lunch and then took a new path to the Gandola station and got down there even quicker. At the station, they had a foot hot spring where you could kick off your shoes and soak your feet as you enjoyed a 2000 foot view of the area. We of course took advantage of it and headed back to the hotel a little while after. We were on the mountain for around five hours, and it was a great time. I realize that I love to hike and plan to do more of it here.

After we got to the hotel and washed up, I took a long as nap to kick my cold and then played ultimate Frisbee with my crew for a bit. From there, we hit my first onsen that was about 5 minutes away. Those things are REALLY hot. It was a natural spring and I only lasted in there for about 10 minutes tops. I was totally cooked to. My body wasn’t used to that much heat for that long hehe. A good experience though. I’ll definitely be frequenting onsens in the future!

On Wednesday we checked out and headed to Kogen falls and Edomura. The falls were on the way and really pretty. Nothin much else to say about them though. As for Edomura, it is a historical theme park that is based on the Japanese way of life during the Edo period. Basically all the staff/cast dress in edo clothing and play a role all day while there are shops, shows and small attractions for guests to enjoy. Furthermore, they offer (even encourage) costume rentals from ninja to nobility of the time that my companions and I took advantage of the oppertunity. I choose to be a ninja and the other two were Samurai. I felt a little silly and of course got a lot of looks from being the white blue-eyed ninja but it wasn't a big deal. After we got dressed up and took some pictures, we caught the shows, threw Ninja stars, shot arrows and enjoyed the feel of the Edo period. If you come to Japan, you definitely want to check out Edomura. Be sure to rent the ninja outfit also, as it is really comfortable =P

Getting home was quick and painless and a good cap to a really nice getaway. I am sad it is over, but not sad to be back. It is counseling week at work and the rest of the week will be fairly low key. I like how it feels. It is a good transition from having so much time off. Whew, well I am off to work and have yet to plan out my weekend. We shall see what goes down.

Thanks for the love!

Life has been fairly hectic this week. At work, we are preparing for our counseling week that will take place after our short holiday. Basically, what is goin on is the Japanese staff at my school will be having meetings with parents of the children students next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. In the meantime, there are no kids classes and the normally scheduled adult classes are canceled as well, but we will be teaching review and private lessons to any of the students that are interested. I know that doesn't seem like a big deal, but the catch comes in at the fact I have to write progress reports for my kids students. I have to rank their current level in five categories for both present and past levels, and then write remarks about the student. Also not a big deal . . . BUT, lets just say I don't get to say what I want to on all of the reports. This limitation has been making this task incredibly difficult and time consuming. I really really REALLY hate certain affects of money.

In terms of teaching, life was great this week. All the adult classes have been fun as usual and my little molesters’ class was really good yesterday. They must have subconsciously known that it was my birthday haha. Oh, so I got a new student in one of my middle age elementary classes. I think that day was the first time she actually spoke English in a formal setting, but she tried really hard and had a really cute personality. There is one other boy in the class, who is really strong, but he seemed a bit bored with trying to let her catch up. Hopefully he can be helpful. I am planning to ask my head teacher to talk with him so he can help me get her up to speed and they can enjoy class a little more. Also, The middle school trial student from a few weeks back signed up for my class, and I am pretty excited bout that as well. She is pretty strong as well and I think her presence will help the other three come out of their shells a bit more. We’ll see.

Last weekend started on Saturday night with the Pot Luck Party at work. It was good times hanging and talking with the students and afterward we took the show to the Karaoke room and sang away the night till about 130am. On Sunday, I had hip-hop, which was fun as always, and then went to a club in Shibuya all night. I went alone again and have noticed a trend. Younger Japanese guys like to come up to me and talk about anything from small talk to asking to help them pick up chicks. I find the fact pretty entertaining. I wish the ladies there were half as comfortable -_- oh well haha. It was a good night at the club and it made for a totally satisfying dance fix for the weekend. Monday, I just stayed around my pad and cleaned or ran errands around my town.

On Monday I head out with my head teacher and a couple of his friends to Nikko Japan. I will definitely be filling you in and posting pics. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Also, thank you everyone for the love about my birthday. I will be responding tonight and most of the day tomorrow.

A very weird thing for me

Those of you that know me well enough are fully aware of my attitude about having kids. My catch phrase for the notion of me being a father has been "I am ok with one . . . IF ANY AT ALL." for 98% of my life, I have not been too keen on the thought of me being responsible for a child. Well, now . . . This is where it gets weird.

Teaching kids has made me particularly fond of them and its no joke. I smile whenever I see kids with their parents (anywhere) and get all excited when my kid students come to school. Moreover, most of my smiles from work come from moments I have with my students during the day. Gosh, they really have grown on me. I never thought I would be feeling like this bout kids. I'm not even dating anyone yet 0_0

One of my best pointed out something I have also noticed with this. Whether they behave or misbehave, most of the actions of younger kids are really genuine. They usually wear their hearts on their sleeves and act accordingly to how they feel. Now that they have gotten comfortable with me, the kids are starting to show their true colors and it is the cutest thing most of the time. It is definitely a learning experience though. All of them have very different personalities and I do like some a little more or less than others (just appreciate my honesty please), but I still have come to care for all of them a great deal. Now I am starting to understand why teachers always love teaching kids the most.

Haha, I really cant believe it when I think about it sometimes still, but it is all good. I know I will be happy with whatever I am fated, but I think I would want my first to be a daughter >_<

Its getting cooler here . . . AWESOME!

So I am more confident that I have gotten into my niche here. Something brand new happens quite infrequently these days, but it is ok. I still really like life here and things overall are still feeling quite fresh.

Work is good as usual. There is always something new goin on and no day is the same as the one before. Whether it is because of new students, programs that we are asked to help promote or the constant class roster changes, monotony is being kept at bay for me. Thank gosh. All the little happy moments and conversations I have with students and staffs are also helping. I pretty much like or have little problems with everyone I work with, so everything is really working out thus far amidst the rather long hours I spend there.

Lots of things went down over the week, as I have alluded to, but I really don't feel moved to share them, because moments like those can’t be conveyed in a way that you would understand and experience them in the same way as me. It really is rewarding though, and kids scare me a lot less than they used to. I can actually conceive myself having one at this point. Don't worry though; I am DEFINITELY not in a rush lol. I haven’t even had a date here yet. Its all good though, as I have bigger fish to fry here right now . . . but my eyes are open =P

The weekend was particularly fun. I met up with friends in Roppongi (Tokyo) after work and got into a fairly nice club (for free!!!) and danced the night away like I love to. They actually had two hairdressing stations (dunno what else to call em) where two guys were doing hair for chicks that could pay for it. I didn't ever expect to see that in a club haha. I also got a lot of free drinks since my friends knew one of the staff and he kept hookin it up. Whew, I haven’t been like that in a while and did not appreciate that the sun was out when I left the club lol.

Yesterday I had hip-hop class and a good time again. Since the choreographer is preparing for the performance in December, we started doing the formations and such. This point of class got funny. So since I may be the only guy (if I perform), the choreographer gives me an 8 count “style solo” where I am supposed to act as if I am “hollerin” at all the girls (who form a crescent formation right behind me) in the class. Not only that, he told the girls to perform as if they are receptive to it . . . just a little awkward. Basically I am just gonna make it fun and innocently playful so I don't feel like a pedophile haha. It’ll be all-good.

Today I just chilled and did everything to tidy up my pad and brush up on my Japanese a bit. It was a rewarding day and good weekend. Looking forward to tomorrow and starting things all over ^_^

A good week and great weekend once again!

Work went just fine this week. All the students, big or small, were wonderful and things weren’t too busy. We do have some things to prepare for though. On the twelfth, we are throwing a potluck dinner for the staff and any students that wish to come and they can bring friends and family if they like. The staff asked us to think of ideas for a theme that had something to do with the month of September. I could not think of anything for three days, as there is no holiday I could use that would actually appeal to the students. They have their own labor day and really wouldn’t understand the significance of “patriot day,” but I eventually figured out something that the staff went for. I said we should theme the party as a “blue” party. Reason being is that the birthstone and flower for September are blue, as is the mood of students going back or just restarting school, thus the potluck has been dubbed a true blue evening and we will all be feasting and socializing clad in some fashionable blue . . . hopefully.

In September, a bunch of holidays fall on the same week this year and my head teacher has been calling it silver week. We will be closed for half a week at work and have been thinking of things (in terms of classes) to offer the students on the days we are open since we wont be holding our normal classes because the cycle would get all complicated. We haven’t decided yet, but it seems as if the week will be composed of private lessons and such. We’ll see. I also am not sure of what I am doing with my time for that holiday. I am supposed to with my head teacher somewhere, but I will wait till there are solid plans set before I get my hopes up. More to come regarding that stuff later.

As far as the weekend was concerned . . . it was a blast! It started promptly after work on Saturday night. I was originally supposed to go to a concert where I know the band members, but the show started an hour and a half before I was even out of work. So, I decided to not go, but the night was salvaged by one of my homies out here and I joined her and her friend in Roppongi (Tokyo) to check out the Sky Aquarium. Basically it is an artistic aquarium atop of a 50+ story building where you get an almost 360 eagle eye view of Tokyo and an eyeful of rare fish set in uniquely designed aquariums (lots of lighting affects) amidst really pretty deep house music. It was a mellow and wonderful experience. It is a total date place though. There were so many couples there! Almost couldn’t keep my dinner down =P

After that, we headed to the “jumpin” part of Roppongi and met up with a friend of my homie and chilled with him and his crew for while at some restaurant. It was a good time and we got a kick out of his friends. They headed off to a club and we actually weren’t interested in following and ended up walking around looking at stores. I served as a bad influence for my friend who did a bit of shopping and ended up with a new dress.

From there we watched the movie “Hachi.” It's a really cute and emotional story about an Akita’s loyalty to his owner and died because of it. If you love dogs, you will like this movie, otherwise I suggest you wait till it hits the video shelves. That may take some time though as the movie isn’t supposed to hit the US till winter 0_0

Sunday was mostly mellow. I cleaned up a bit and had hip-hop class. Apparently, this studio is having a performance in September and they are already prepping for it. If my poor Japanese serves me right, then I think the choreographer wants me to participate. I will know for sure after next week what he meant as he said he would give me some info then. That would be funny to perform again though. Especially cause the class I am in is composed of: me (grown man), another college dude, and like 7 middle school age girls. It would look really funny, but its all good. I am just doing it for fun anyway (no comments needed from: Andrew, James, and Rainer. Thank you lol).

Today, I rock climbed again and have seemed to improved a tiny bit more. I am happy with that and look forward to the next time. It really is an enjoyable and rewarding sport. Overcoming the challenges presented by climbing offer that nice small dose of accomplishment to keep you spirits up for a good while. Afterward, I spent the afternoon and evening in Tokyo (I might s well live there) and have been taking it easy.

Looking forward to the coming week and weekend!